So you want a Race Kit?

Nangyari na ba sa iyo na may gusto ka takbuhan na race, kaso wala ka pang-register?


Gusto mo malaman kung paano ka makaka-kuha ng race kit?

Image: graur razvan ionut / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Ito yung legal, try mo...

1. Mag-ipon at mag-register (kaso, magastos ka kaya wala ka pang-bayad)

2. Sumali sa mga pa-contest. (Marami dyan sa paligid, buksan mo lang ang mga mata)

3. Magpa-sponsor (ang taray!!!)






Kaso, kung desperado. Di kita kukunsintihin. Ika nga, "Try at your own risk".

Image: chanpipat / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

1. Mag-matyag at mag-abang ng mga hindi makakatabo. (kapalan ng konti ang mukha at hingin ang kanilang kit).

2. Mag abang ng mga nag "Buy and Sell". May ibang runners na maaga nag-register kaso, biglang hindi makakatakbo... at binebenta ang kanilang race kit.

3. Mag-Bandit. (ginawa ko na minsan ito... although may baon naman akong sariling hydration at hindi kumuha sa water stations, di ko pa din gusto ang pakiramdam. di ko na inulit)


Sa tatlong nasa itaas... eto ang pwedeng maging problema... Walang insurance. Kung may mangyari sa iyo sa race, walang sagot sa iyo ang organizer.


4. Kapalan ang mukha at mag-gate crash sa blogcons. Btw, hindi lahat ng blogcons eh namimigay ng free race kit... :)



Pero seriously... if wala talaga pang-register. Marami naman kalsadang pwedeng libreng takbuhan. 

Bakit Why?!?

"Don't take the first step, if you're planning to cheat... " - Anonymous

Actually, imbento ko lang yang quote na nasa itaas... hehehe.

Kidding aside, kung binabalak lang naman mangdaya sa karera, sana huwag na lang sumali...

Mas matatanggap pa ng lahat ang mag DNF tayo, kesa sa mandaya...

Maraming makaka-kita sa iyo. Akala mo lang wala, pero meron, meron, meron!


Dahil naging saksi na ako sa ganitong pangyayari....



50K Ultra 2010...

Tumakbo ako noon sa isang lugar sa may Visayas.

Matarik ang ruta, na-tempt ako mamulot ng mga putol na sanga ng puno para gawing tungkod. Pero di ko ginawa, pakiramdam ko kasi pandaraya din yun. Patag naman kasi yun ruta, matarik nga lang.

May naabutan ako dalawang mama. Ang kaso, magkatali ang kanilang mga baywang. Hinihila ng isang manong ang isa pa... Para sa akin, ang lagyan ng tali ang baywang at magpahila ay isang uri na din ng pandaraya.




42K Milo Marathon 2009...

Pagkatapos ko tumakbo/lumakad ng 42KM. Binalikan ko yung ibang kaibigan mananakbo para bigyan ng suporta. Pag-sapit ko sa tapat ng Aristocrat, binati ko si Runner X ng.. "Okay ka pa?" At sumenyas sya ng "thumbs-up".

Nun aking naabutan ang mga kaibigan, na-i-kwento ko sa kanila na nakasalubong ko si Runner X. Dito ko nalaman na nag-quit na pala ito at sumakay ng bus sa may bandang Buendia.

Kaso, eto ang malupit. Kumuha ng medal si Runner X at proud na proud pa na ibinandera ito...

Reklamador-to-door

"Pare, hassle yung pagkuha ng race-kit pare dun sa ang hirap puntahan na location pare... yun driver ko pare pinapunta ko pare, tapos di binigay race-kit ko pare, kailangan daw ng authorization letter pare, bolshoi pare... 
tapos online ito pare eh.. dapat may nag-deliver na lang pare...
tapos di sinunod yun 10AM pare... ginawang 12PM pare... bad trip pare. I did not take my vitamins pa naman pare. And my yaya, she got mad pare... nabastos dun sa claiming area pare... maygaaadddd..."

Are you drugs??? Kung ano mang brand ng katol yang tinitira mo eh pakitigilan na at nagkukulang na ang oxygen sa iyong utak.

Senysa na... Wala ako kinakampihan dito. Kaso, nakakasawa na makabasa at makarinig ng mga reklamo.

Eto tip ko teh...

1. Una... tigilan na ang paghithit ng katol!
2. Magbasa! Magbasa lalo na sa mga official website. Dahil sa official website mo makikita ang maliliit na detalye... (eto nakalagay sa official website ---> *For those who are unable to personally collect their Race Entry Pack, please fill out and print the letter of authorization. Your representative must show this form along with a copy of your Confirmation Slip). Mahirap intindihin? Ayaw mo maniwala? Pwet, este pwes ikaw na ang tumingin dito --> http://runrio.com/2011/09/nike-we-run-manila-10k-2011/
3. Huwag! Huwag basta maniniwala lalo na sa mga sites na nangongopya lang. Malamang sa hinde eh, hindi nakapag-update yun site na pinupuntahan nyo nun biglang nag-adjust ng oras ang organizer.
4. Kung! Kung nakapag-register na. Huwag masyadong atat!!! Dahil malamang sa hinde, eh meron pa na mas atat sa iyo.
5. Kung ulet! Kung may pila. Pumila ng maayos.
6. Kung na naman! Kung may reklamo... umayos sa pakikipag-usap sa tamang kinauukulan. Hindi yung magtatatalak at  magrereklamo sa hangin. Ang root word ay "ayos". Kung ayos kang kausap, eh kakausapin ka din ng ayos. 
7. IF! Para maiba naman.. If nakuha mo na ang Race Kit at medyo madami ang  tao sa claiming area, eh umalis ka na at nakakasikip ka lang. Tambay ka muna sa istarbaks, para nerbiyusin ng konti.

Opinyon ko lang...
Although nag-release ng change of time regarding sa claiming ng kits, sana di na lang binago yung oras. Dahil madaming hindi nagbabasa or malamang walang kaibigang nakapagsabi at nag-pa-alala na nag-palit ng oras. 

Or wala lang talagang kaibigan, period.

"Eh hindi pare eh...." 

Humihithit pa din!

(imahe ay galing dito --> http://www.blogger.com/profile/07020422699746467149 )

May Nagtanong Ulet!!!

Biglaan lang na may nagtanong kagabi...

"Mga bata ba yung nasa blog header mo? Parang hindi naman  ah..."

Very nice, meron na naman ako ilalagay sa blog ko... hehehhee 

Dito siguro nag-ugat ang tanong na yan... May Nag E-Mail!!! 

Eto po ang kabuuan ng picture ng blog header.

Kayo na po mag-husga kung mga bata ito o hinde...

Sya nga pala... Salamat kay Mrs sa tanong! =D

(imahe, hinugot dito -> http://ginormasource.com/kids/kids-running-on-the-beach-windows-background)

Paalam Chief!

“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.” - Steve Jobs

(imahe, hinugot dito -> http://www.macstories.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/SteveJobs.png)

May Nag E-Mail!!!

I received an interesting e-mail inquiry...

"Boss, kung ikaw si Rod Runner. Bakit ang blog header mo ay mga batang tumatakbo sa tubig? Di ba dapat sa Road?"


Good observation! Talagang binasag mo bungo mo para lang dyan ha! 

Pero, oo nga ano... bakit nga ba?

Well... Sa mga hindi po nakaka-alam (ats if, este as if may iba pang interesado malaman bukod kay koya), lumaki po ako malapit sa dagat (Manila Bay, Roxas Blvd). Ang aking lolo ay isang mangingisda. At ayon sa aking Nanay, sanggol pa lang ako ay madalas na ako isama ng aking lolo sa dagat tuwing sya ay papa-laot upang mangisda.

Noon, madalas din ako maglaro sa tabing dagat kasama ng aking mga kaibigan kapag walang pasok sa eskwelahan. Wala pa yang Macapagal Blvd... wala pa yang Coastal Road. Maitim nga lang ang buhangin sa Manila Bay, pero napakalinaw ng tubig. Makikita mo ang mga maliliit na isda at mga pana-pana (sea urchins) na nagkalat.

Ayan koya, napahaba tuloy. Sana nasagot ko katanungan mo.

Teka, baka may magtanong kung marunong ako lumangoy. Opo, marunong ako lumangoy. Pero sabi nga ng isang kaibigan sa takbo nun nakita ako lumangoy sa pool, langoy-dagat daw ang alam ko. 


Di ko alam na meron palang langoy-swimming pool... :p

Pangmatagalan!

Someone asked... "Bro, they said you can run 10K even 15K without hydration? Is this true?"

Here's my answer.

Yes, I can. But I'm not encouraging that you do the same specifically during a race.

I usually do this during training runs so that come race day, when and if water runs out I won't be on panic mode fearing dehydration.

Please do note that during training days, I run on a route where hydration is available. I run where a convenience store is within reach. But I delay the urge of drinking.

I ran the BDM test run with my CamelBak, but I delayed drinking from it. Until Marga stopped me and told me to drink.

But I think the key here is to hydrate before the run. I drink at least 500ml of sports drink before running.

Back to Zero

I've been running / joining races since 2008. I've participated on almost all distances up to 102 Kilometers.

But as I found out, if you don't do it regularly you're bound to go back to where you started.

Case in point, last week after the first workout of the MILO Apex, I felt like a newbie all over again. My body was aching where I never thought it would ache.

I felt fat and unfit. And I'm blaming myself for wasting all the mileage I accumulated since I started running.

Last Saturday, the target was to run 15K which I thought was easy. But after running the first half of it. I was already tired and thinking what the hell happened.

And now I'm back to zero...

Let's do this!!!

(image from http://amandaciske.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/tired-runner.jpg)

Not Looking Good

When was the last time you felt like things are not falling into place?

I thought that I'll have more time to do my runs. But no, schedule is not permitting it. I can only have a decent run during races, which is not a good sign.

This week is supposed to be the start of my training for the BDM 100 miler next year.

I just hope that things will change and fall into place... soon.

Failed Attempt

My first try on running barefoot made me realize that I should be doing this alone... Well, not really alone by myself. But alone as in, walang pwedeng kumontra!

My daughter and I just came home from running 5K at the Alaska Family Run. We were at the baggage counter earlier before the start of the race and I was removing my shoes to try running barefoot. As soon as my daughter saw this, she blurted.. "Ay nakoooo... hindi ako tatakbo...."

Ppfffttttt....

And so I did the next best thing. I removed my shoes after we crossed the finish line and walked barefoot. x_X

Here I Go Again

Exactly 16 days today (May 12) since I last ran. I’ve never been so idle this long.

Rewind to April 29

Annual physical examination time. I was hoping that the Doctor will give me a thumbs up sign that I'm on tiptop shape. Thinking that I'd be healthy since I've been running regularly for 2 years already. Well, I was wrong.

The Doctor checked my BP and it read 170/120. But I kept my fingers crossed as she checked again. But it only confirmed the first BP reading.

After that, I already know what will follow.

Doctor: You have to go to the ER. Your BP is too high.

So, went to the ER I did.

My wife accompanied me to the Makati Medical Center. She filled up the usual documents.

Another Doctor checked me. Then they gave me a medicine to lower down my BP.

After almost an hour of resting, the Doctor checked again my BP. It read 150/100.

Ayos! So I tought.

As I was being given prescriptions, my wife suddenly asks the Doctor.

Wife: Doc, pwede po ba sya tumakbo?

Doctor: ???

Me: ???

Doctor: No strenuous activities until you’re completely checked.

Me: ?!?!?!?!?!!!!!!!!!!

Wife: Wahahahhaha!!!! Di ka makakaalis ng bahay!!!!

Me: Saksakin nyo na lang ako!!!!

Goodbye PAU… =(

I could have ignored the Doctor's orders if I wanted to. I've done it last year when I was checked with a BP of 200/140. And ran my first 42k, 4 weeks later.

Heck, I ran BDM with a systolic level higher than 180. My diastolic, never mind...

But then again, I think this will be the best time to really control my BP. If I really want to run more and live longer. This is the right thing to do.

Tomorrow, I'll return to the hospital to do a series of tests. Including running on a treadmill. Woot!!!

But… I just hope that this will soon be over. I need to run. I already missed the 1st PAU. I'm not going to miss the next one.

2nd BDM 102 - Part 2 (Extra Push)

March 6, 2010

We finally arrived at the very posh Villa Imperial. Tried to get some shuteye. But wasn't really able to sleep. I just laid there while trying to keep my mind off with the impending race.

At 6PM, Doc T, Poj, Gab and I went to the nearest church to ask God for guidance and strength for us to finish the race.

Then some photo-ops back at Villa Imperial...


By 8:30PM, we were on our way to KM0 in Mariveles Bataan.

Before our group went down from our vehicle at KM0, Mar and Marky offered prayers for all the participants.

The atmosphere was festive at KM0. I had goose bumps looking at the mix of participants and support crews. It was overwhelming...

big bee staring... scary...

Team Boring!!! Woot!!!

takbo.ph peeps!!!

thanks to

Mark Castillo
and
Brando Losaria
for the pics!!!

While waiting for the race to start, I just felt that something was missing.

Flashlight, check... Garmin, check... Timex watch, check... RoadID, check... Race bib, check...

Weird... I have everything I need for the race.

30 minutes before the gun start, I called up my wife to check on the kids. Then she gave the phone to my youngest, Justin.

Me: Hey... bat gising ka pa?
Justin: Dad, tatakbo ka?
Me: Yup... mag-sleep ka na.
Justin: May medal?
Me: Meron medal...
Justin: Yehey!!! May medal ulit ako!!!

All of a sudden, I felt complete... I felt ready.

That was the one thing missing, that one extra push from Justin.

Something to fuel me to finish this race...

'to be continued...

2nd BDM 102 - Part 1 (The Birth)

March 2, 2010

• CLP / BDM Support meeting @ North Park, Market Market
  
• Doc T was problematic because suddenly they have no support vehicle for the race
• Doc T's problem was solved as we welcomed and embraced him to our group
  

The atmosphere was very festive and the participants were very enthusiastic.

see??? enthusiastic kami... =D
(standing: me, pojie, gab)
(sitting: argo, jet, vic partially hidden)
thanks to Doc Marvs for this pic

• Moved to next door TOSH for a more serious meeting with our group
• 2 bottles was the order of the Doctor for the night! Hindi pwede uminom si Jet!!!

March 4, 2010

• BDM 102 CLP & Final Briefing @ Camp Aguinaldo, QC.
• Original bib # 133 was mistakenly given to someone else. Got a favorite number instead.

thanks to Marky for this pic

• Went to Rob Galleria after to meet with the group again. You just can't have too many meetings...

March 5, 2010

• Went with Vic to get the support vehicle
• Went to grocery to buy additional supplies for the race

March 6, 2010

• Woke up 5AM to buy ice and stack gatorade, water, pocari
• Picked-up Gab, Cindy, Pojie, Marky
• Waited for Vic @ McDo Muñoz
• Still waiting for Vic @ McDo Muñoz
• still waiting....
• and waiting...
• finally....
• Picked-up Doc T from his house in Bulacan

Since the travel was loooooonnnnnggggg. The group exchanged stories about the race; the preparation, the hydration, the people. That's how 'bored' we were.

And so... Team Boring was born...

Ang haba noh??? Yun lang pala dahilan kung bakit may Team Boring???

'to be continued...

Am I Real

I was supposed to get bib #133, during the CLP for the 2nd BDM 102. But for some reason, someone else got the number. No worries there as I was given a new number. A very special number. One of my favorites.

214, or Feb 14 is Johann's birthday.

It's also his hospital room number when he was born. (wala lang.. para may masabi lang.. =p)

rock on!!!

It's also the title of a favorite Rivermaya song.

Am I Real...

Well... we'll see after March 7, 2010. =D

Breaking the Jinx

Just thought of writing this down to break the jinx...

A while ago, I talked to my wife informing her that I'll be home late. Because I have to attend the BDM support group meeting at Market, Market.

As I was about to put the phone down, my wife told me to go home early because I sound sick on the phone. True, I have colds right now. But I still feel okay.

Then my wife goes on telling me the last time I was sick and there was this one race I missed. The race was the SIM last 2009. I was really looking forward to that race last year. And even helped some of my friends to register early just to get the early bird discount.

Now.. here comes the BDM 102 this coming March 6-7. I wont miss this for anything. Good thing that I got the colds this early as I'd be A-Okay by D-Day.

Keeping my fingers crossed!!! Wish me luck!!!


Or should I say.. WISH US LUCK!!!

LSD at Century Tuna Superbods Run

I was not able to sleep well the night before the Century Tuna Superbods Run.

I picked-up my daughter from a school concert which was supposed to end by 10pm. But instead it ended @ 11pm. No worries then, as I have no plan to improve my 21K pr on this event. The plan was to do an LSD and include it as part of my BDM 102 training.

And so I set my phone's alarm to 3:00AM because I don't want to be late for this race. And guess what, I woke up even before the alarm went off. I chicken-slept (tulog-manok... tama ba?).

My veggies... I'm not yet fully charged, not even half charged.

So I went to my usual business on a race day... drank two glasses of cold water... ate a peanut butter and strawberry jam sandwich... took a bath... dressed... fixed my race kit... and I'm off.

I was at the site before 4am. Enough time to chit chat with friends and even insert a warm-up. Yup... insert a warm-up. You see, I don't really warm-up before a race. I stretch a bit though. Pwede na ba yun?

The race was supposed to start @ 5:20AM, but for some unknown reason it started 10 minutes early.

As I was positioned near the faster runners, I tried my best to keep pace with them. I averaged 5:10mpk on my 1st 2Km and when I saw that I was going too fast, I slowed down a bit.

I tried to maintain a 5:30mpk and hydrate at every 2nd water station.

And when I felt I was running at my comfortable pace, I totally ignored my gps watch and just went with the flow.

But when I reached Km 15 after exiting Heritage Memorial Park, I took a glimpse at my watch.

I've run 15Kms for 01hr26mins... so I thought; it's possible to have a new PB and even a sub 2.

I paced with Doc Pinky up to Km 17. Slowed down when I saw my HR shooting up to 90%. But when I reached KM19 and saw my time @ 01hr52mins, I said “Goodbye Sub-2”.

Good thing Ace & Pojie was there to give a push. A new 21K best is still possible.

But with less than 1K more to go to finish line, my hands suddenly felt numb. And when I checked my HR, it was already at 95%. So I told Ace & Pojie to go ahead and I’ll just walk to the finish line.

When I turned left going to the finish line, I saw Sir Jovie egging me on and the official time. 02hrs03mins!!! And so I made a mad dash towards the finish. Completely ignoring my HR which shot up to 104% when I finished. But it was all good!!! It was a great feeling to know that I have improved. I got a new 21K best (02:03:55) and a medal. Woot!

LSD? Taper????


About the Race:

The race was huge and the atmosphere was festive. But the distribution of the medals, loot bags, etc needs more improvement. Falling in line to get the freebies after a long run was not a good sight.

But for me, the race was a success with a few minor hiccups.

Gone Na'vi

Na'vi what?

From the movie AVATAR, The Na'vi are a race of sentient extraterrestrial humanoids who inhabit the lush jungle moon of Pandora. Humans are known to refer to them as "Blues", "Savages" or "the locals".


About an hour ago I have no idea what a Na'vi is if it wasn't for Tim. Thanks bro!

But let's not talk about the movie... I haven't seen it yet.

Here's why the name Na'vi came up.

hello... my name is Na'vi
orig price: P5,495.00

I bought the shoe... err, Na'vi yesterday. While lurking at takbo.ph shoutbox, I followed a conversation regarding a shoe store in Makati selling Nike Lunarglide+ for 3K+.

As I'm not a fan of overpriced shoes, I thought "wow, 40% off!!!". I searched for the shoe store's number and gave them a call. I inquired about the shoe and the sales lady told me that it's their last pair for men's. I asked about the size... lo and behold it's 10.5!!! woot!!! My size!!!

I used my afternoon break time to check out the shoe. Reached the store, immediately tried them on, paid for it, then zoom back to the office.

Haven't break in Na'vi yet. But checking on reviews by Vener, Sam and Natz, I know I made a steal. =D

Now, where can I get a compression tights that has the same colors...

Traffic Sucks!!!

Earlier, I planned to use my lunch break to go to Glorietta to check and possibly buy a shoe to replace my worn out leather shoes.

At exactly 12PM, I went out of the office and rode a jeepney going towards Glorietta. But as luck would have it, there was traffic on the entire 2.5km route. And I wasted 40mins of my lunch break in traffic!!! Grrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!

Alas, I wasn't able to buy a shoe. Instead I made a quick dash to the grocery and bought chocolates to calm me down.

Only 10mins before 1PM and I thought that if I again take a jeepney going back the office I might be charged with over-break.

My solution... Walk and take the short cut back. Besides, I can include this as part of my heat training.

But how short was it? 1.3Kms and it only took me 13mins to walk back to the office.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!

X-Mas Wish

dear santa,

if it's not too much to ask, i would love to own a new pair of ASICS GEL-KINSEI 3 this Christmas. you see, i've been using my NB 825 and ASICS 2130 alternately this year. and i'm planning to let go of my NB 825's as it has given me more pains than mileage.

please... please... please...

look at her... she's calling me...

ain't she a beauty... *sigh*

What's in the box??? (The Opening)

The "box" arrived last friday, 11.27.2009.

Excited and nervous at the same time. I think I heard the angels sing when I opened the box.

dyaraaannnnn!!!!

I already used it last Saturday, 11.28.2009 and at the NB race last 11.29.2009. And boy do I like it!!!

A running buddy (RuBu) saw the new toy...
RuBu: I thought, TIMEX was a sister company?
Rod : Yup... eh may mabait na nag-abot ng GARMIN eh. Hindi ko tinanggihan. =D

Wait... parang may laman pa yun box... hmnnn....